Application Guide

How to Apply for People Operations Manager

at Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

🏢 About Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing risks from frontier AI systems through rigorous policy research. Unique for its mission-driven focus on AI safety, it offers the chance to work remotely with a global team shaping critical AI governance.

About This Role

As People Operations Manager, you'll build and lead the HR function from scratch, overseeing hiring, compliance, and culture for a growing remote team. Your work directly supports IAPS's mission by ensuring the team can focus on high-impact research without operational distractions.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start the day reviewing compliance updates for US and UK employees, then meet with the hiring team to refine job descriptions. Afternoon involves a 1:1 with a team member on their professional development plan, followed by reviewing benefits vendor proposals. End the day by updating the remote work policy based on employee feedback.

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🎯 Who Institute for AI Policy and Strategy Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years in people ops or HR, with specific experience in US and UK employment law, benefits, and payroll compliance.
  • Thrives in a startup-like environment, comfortable building processes from scratch and iterating quickly.
  • Demonstrates strong leadership, having managed a team and mentored others, with a focus on professional development.
  • Passionate about AI safety and nonprofit work, understanding the unique needs of a remote, research-driven organization.

📝 Tips for Applying to Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific compliance experience with both US and UK jurisdictions, including examples of managing multi-state payroll or benefits.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your HR experience to supporting a research nonprofit's mission, not just generic HR duties.

3

Mention any experience with remote-first or distributed teams, as IAPS is fully remote and likely values asynchronous communication.

4

Showcase metrics: e.g., reduced time-to-hire, improved employee retention, or successful compliance audits.

5

Research IAPS's published work (e.g., on their website) and reference how your role enables such research in your application.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your understanding of and alignment with IAPS's mission to reduce AI risks through policy.", 'Concrete examples of managing compliance across US and UK, including specific regulations (e.g., IR35, ACA).', 'Your approach to building scalable people processes for a growing remote team.', "How you've previously led or mentored a People Ops team, with emphasis on professional development."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read IAPS's latest research papers or blog posts on AI policy to understand their work and terminology.
  • → Review their team page to understand current organizational structure and gaps you'd fill.
  • → Look into their funding sources and any recent news about their impact or partnerships.
  • → Understand the AI safety landscape and key organizations (e.g., MIRI, OpenAI) to contextualize their role.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design the onboarding process for a remote employee in a different time zone?
2 Describe a time you had to navigate a complex compliance issue involving multiple countries.
3 How do you prioritize competing demands when building HR processes from scratch?
4 What metrics would you use to measure the success of People Operations at IAPS?
5 How would you foster company culture in a fully remote, mission-driven nonprofit?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid generic HR language; focus on AI safety and nonprofit-specific challenges.
  • Don't overlook the UK compliance aspect – failing to mention it suggests you haven't read the job description carefully.
  • Don't propose overly complex processes that don't fit a small, lean nonprofit – emphasize scalability and pragmatism.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Institute for AI Policy and Strategy!

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